Semiautomatic wire fed top stop machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. PERLMAN SEMIAUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Filed Maren 51, 1966 l Dec. 10, 1,968

INVENTOR.

90g @NE Dec. 1o, 196s M. PERLMAN 3,415,293

SEMIAUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Filed Marchil, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. mee/5- Paw/maw BMM@ was Dec. 10, 1968 M. PERLMAN SEMIAUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 3l, 1966 INVENTOR.

MEE/S PEEM/l/ TTOZ/VEY Dec. 10, 1968 M. PERLMAN 3,415,293

SEMIAUTOMATIC WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE Filed March 31, 196e 5 sheets-sheet 4 V@Op l`lll fyz 384? 934? INVENTOR. Maze/s PE /V/M/ fraz/Vey Dec. 10, 1968 M. PERLMAN 3,415,293

SEMIAUTOMIUIIC` WIRE FED TOP STOP MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 31, 1966 MAM United States Patent O 3,415,293 SEMIAUTMATIC WIRE FEI) T01 STOP MACHINE Morris Perlman, 1326 38th St., Brooklyn, NX. 11218 Filed Mar. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 539,162 Claims. (Cl. 14G--93) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLSURE A semiautomatic wire fed top stop machine comprising a frame, a supporting bracket for a reel of flat wire, motor means for driving a slidable driver assembly, a stationary die block, a disappearing arbor. A roller assembly for a pair of wire feed jaws form a wire feed mechanism. The machine includes a top stop forming mechanism and a top stop clinching mechanism for placement of top stops on slide fastener slingers adjacent the ends of the rows of teeth of the slide fastener, to prevent disengagement of a slider off the ends of the rows of teeth.

This invention relates generally to machines for manufacture of slide fasteners. More specifically it relates to machines for attaching top stops to the end of a Stringer adjacent the last tooth of the slide fastener.

It is generally well known that the slider member of a slide fastener must be confined to travel within the longitudinal length of the slide fastener and must not be permitted to disengage therefrom at the slide fastener ends, otherwise re-engagexnent with the teeth of the slide fastener is quite dicult. Accordingly, in the art, top stops are secured at the end of the slide fastener. These top stops generally comprise U-configurated staples against which the slider abuts and can not travel across, thereby arresting the slider from disengagement with the slide fastener teeth. These top stops have been heretofore secured adjacent the slide fastener end by various machines developed in the art but which apparently lacked the high degree of efficiency that is now expected of modern mass production methods.

Accordingly it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a top stop production and securement machine which forms the top stop from a length of plain wire and which also secures the formed top stop to the slide fastener stripper by semiautomatic means.

Another object is to provide a semiautomatic wire fed top stop machine wherein the top stop formation and securement are accomplished in relatively rapid successive steps.

Another object is to provide a semiautomatic wire fed top stop machine which can :be eiciently and safely operated by any unskilled worker.

Other objects are to provide a semiautomatic wire fed top stop machine that is simple in design, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction and easy to use.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanyanying drawings wherein the gures designated by numerals indicate constructional features only and wherein the figures designated by alphabetical characters indicate the sequence of operation of the machine. It will be further noted that gures identified by an alphabetical character having a numerical suix are dependent from the designated parent alphabetical figure and are for the purpose of clarifying an operative construction or position at the particular step of the cycle illustrated in the parent-like alphabetical gure.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a machine incorporating the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof shown in a position at the start of the operation cycle,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view, partly in cross-section, showing the wire feed ljaws illustrated in FIGURE 2 and shown in the same plane,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the jaw and cage shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the principal elements of the present machine shown separately and showing in phantom lines their position relative to each other in the machine,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine shown partly in cross-section and illustrating the same in a start position,

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a slide fastener Stringer prior to insertion into the machine,

FIGURE 9 is a plan view thereof shown inserted into the machine,

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the driver assembly as viewed on `line 5 5 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the roller assembly as viewed on line 6 6 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE l2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 12 of FIGURE 9,

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13 of FIGURE 12,

FIGURE 14 is a view simliar to FIGURE 8 showing a subsequent step of operation,

|FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 15-15 of FIGURE 14,

FIGURE 16 is a view similar to FIGURE 14 showing a subsequent step of operation,

FIGURE 17 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 17-17 of FIGURE 16,

FIGURE 18 is a plan view of a slide fastener assembly after having been completed on the present machine,

FIGURE 19 is a view similar to FIGURE 17, showing a subsequent step in case the top stop is not properly formed or secured to the stringer, as shown in FIGURE 17, and showing the top stop :being kicked out of the machine,

FIGURE 20 is a side elevation view, partly in cross-section, showing the wire feed mechanism in operation,

FIGURE 21 is a bottom perspective view of an anvil or disappearing arbor shown in operative use during the wire feed operation,

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged detail view of structure illustrated in FIGURE 20,

FIGURE 23 is a view similar to FIGURE 20 showing a subsequent step of operation,

FIGURE 24 is an enlarged detail view of structure illustrated in FIGURE 23,

FIGURE 25 is a view similar to FIGURE 23 showing a next subsequent step of operation,

FIGURE 26 is a perspective view showing the forming operation accomplished in the step illustrated in FIG- URE 25,

FIGURE 27 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 27-27 of FIGURE 27.

FIGURE 28 is a view similar to FIGURE 27, showing a next subsequent step of operation, and

FIGURE 29 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 29-29 of FIGURE 28.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 30 represents a sem-iautomatic Wire feed top stop machine according to the present invention, wherein there is a frame 32 having a crankcase 34 integrally formed with a hase 36 which can be mounted upon any supporting surface 38 for convenient operation. A reel bracket is secured by screws 42 to the base, and a reel 44 having a wire 46 wound thereupon is mounted on a spindle 48 supported on the bracket.

An electric motor 50 is mounted on the side of the crankcase by means of screws 52; the motor having a motor shaft 54 with pulley 56 secured thereon which transmits power through an endless belt, 58, to a pulley on a drive shaft 62. A clutch 64 provides connection between drive shaft 62 and a main shaft 66 in axial alignment therewith. The clutch is operated -by any conventional means (not shown) to automatically disengage the main shaft from the drive shaft after each single revolution thereof.

A solenoid 68, activated through a manually operated foot switch (not shown), provides means for moving the clutch when it is desired to reconnect the drive shaft and the main shaft. Linkages and 72 transmit the solenoid movement to the clutch. Thus the continuous rotational movement of the drive shaft is used to provide a singular turn to the main shaft when so desired (see FIGURES 1 and 6).

A collar 74 affixed on the main shaft carries eccentrically a pin 76 connected pivotally free to one end of a link 78; the other end of the link being pivoted on a pin 80 secured to a driver assembly 82. The driver assembly is supported slidably free within a bracket 84 mounted on the side of the crankcase by 'bolts 86.

The wire feed mechanism The rear end of the driver assembly has a cam face 88 which is arranged to engage a roller 90, mounted on a rocker arm 92, is pivotable about a pin 94 mounted on the crankcase. A spring 96 normally urges the forward end of the rocker arm downwardly; a wire feed jaw 98 being mounted at the forward end of the arm. Another wire feed jaw 100 is stationarily mounted on the crankcase and in spaced apart relation below the jaw 98. Each jaw includes a main member 102 having a notch 104 between a pair of downwardly converging faces 106. A pair of rollers 108 are loosely carried within a cage 110 which is pivoted at one end on a screw 112 mounted on the main member 102. The rollers are carried in a side-by-side relation, as shown in FIGURE 3 and are movable sidewardly to allow passage of the wire 46 therebetween. The roller cage is fitted into the notch so that the cylindrical side of each roller is frictionally engageable with one of the diagonal faces 106. A compression coil spring 114 normally urges the cage downwardly, thereby urging the rollers toward each other and thus firmly grasping the wire passing therebetween. I

The top stop forming mechanism The top stop forming mechanism comprises a stationary die block 116, through which the wire is fed, a disappearing anbor 118 around which the wire is bent, and the forward end of the driver assembly 82 which causes the wire to be cut and then bends the same about the arbor 118. (See FIGURE 5.)

The stationary die block 116 is afiixed rigidly by a screw 120 to the side of the crankcase. A vertical opening 122 through the die block permits feeding of wire 46 upwardly therethrough.

The disappearing arbor (shown also in FIGURE 2l) has an understide surface 124 against which the end of the wire may abut during the feeding operation. The arbor further includes a sidewardly projecting die 126 located in spaced apart relation below a portion of the under side surface 124, and around which the top stop is formed.

The driver assembly (as best shown in FIGURE l0) includes a swiveling clincher block 128 pivotally mounted on a pin 130 fixed on a main fbody 132. A compression coil spring 134 normally urges the block 128 upwardly against the head 136 of a screw 138 secured in the main body 132 (see FIGURE 13). The forward end of the swiveling clincher block has a jaw 140, the underside of which has a shallow groove 142. The driver assembly also includes a punch insert 144 rigidly secured to the main body by screws 146. The forward end of the punch insert has a jaw 148 having a shallow groove 150 on its upper side. It will be noted that the jaws are in vertical alignment to hold a top stop therebetween in the grooves thereof, as shown in FIGURE 17. The lower side 152 of the punch insert is in sliding contact with the upper side 154 -of the stationary die block, as is illustrated in FIGURE 24.

The disappearing arbor 118 has an arcuate face 156 which is cngageable with a diagonal cam face 158 on the swiveling clincher block, as is evident in FIGURE 27, to cause the disappearing arbor to be pushed sidewardly and against a compression coil spring 160 backed by a plate 162, secured by screw 164 to the crankcase. Thus the disappearing arbor is out of the way, to permit access of a stringer to the top stop and removal forwardly of the top stop from the machine.

The ch'nching mechanism The clinching mechanism includes all the elements required to secure the formed top stop upon the stringer. This mechanism includes the driver assembly 82 and a roller assembly 166, which is stationarily mounted on the crankcase directed over the driver assembly.

The roller assembly comprises a block 168 having an upwardly extending recess 170 on its lower side, and a cylindrical roller 172 being freely supported within the recess. A vertically extending adjustable limit screw 174 limits the upward travel of the roller within the recess by serving as a stop against the upper part of the roller.

The driver assembly includes a cam face 176 on the upper side of the swiveling clincher, the cam face comprising a horizontal lower surface 178, a horizontal higher surface 180 and an inclined interconnecting surface 182 therebetween. As is readily evident in FIGURES 12 and l5 the cam face 176 travels beneath the roller 172, the latter causing the swiveling clincher to be pivoted doWnwardly as the higher surface 180 is brought under the roller.

The kickout mechanism The disappearing arbor also has a kickout pin 184 extending sidewardly therefrom as shown in FIGURE 2l. This pin is directly in rear of the cam 126 and at the same elevation, as the cam. This pin extends into a slot 186 formed between the lower side 188 of the swiveling clincher and the upper side 190 of the punch insert. An upwardly extending recess 192 is provided in the swiveling clincher to clear the kickout pin when the swiveling clincher is in downwardly pivoted position, as shown in FIGURE 15. The kickout pin serves to remove from the machine any top stop that has not become secured to the slinger in the nal step of the operation, thereby clearing the machine for a new cycle.

Operation Before operative use, a spool of wire is mounted on the spindle 48, and the wire is threaded through guide 194, the wire feed jaws 100 and 98 in sequence, and then into the lower end of opening 122 in the stationary die block 116.

A manual switch 196, mounted on the crankcase 34, is then turned on to provide rotation to drive shaft 62.

In the initial operation of the machine a complete production of a top stop and securement thereof to a stringer is not possible since in each cycle of the machine the securement of a top stop (formed in the previous cycle) is accomplished first after which the formation of a next top stop is done (for use in the next operative cycle).

Once the machine is in operation, a normal cycle takes place as follows:

Before the start of the cycle the clutch is in a disengaged position as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, wherein the main shaft 66 is at a standstill while the drive shaft 62 is constantly rotating.

The operator now takes a Stringer 204 comprising a tape 206 having a row of slide fastener teeth 208 mounted on one edge 210 thereof. The operator now inserts the stringer into the notch 212 at the forward end of the forwardly projecting driver assembly, and he moves the Stringer sufficiently thereinto, so that the tape edge 210 is entered into the opening 214 in the top stop. He now moves the tape sideward until the end tooth is in abutment with the side of the top stop held between the jaws. (See FIGURES 8, 9, 10, 1l, 12 and 13.)

The operator now depresses the foot switch to re-engage the clutch and provide rational movement to the mainshaft. The driver assembly now moves forward until the cam face 176 moving below roller 172 is depressed downwardly causing the jaws t-o clinch the formed top stop onto the tape. (See FIGS. 14 and 15).

The driver assembly having arrived at its extreme for- -ward position now starts to travel rearward. The cam face 176 moves from a high to a low face below the roller 172, causing the jaws to part and release their hold on the top stop which is n-ow mounted on the tape. The driver moves rearward out of the way, leaving the finished Stringer alone in the operators hands. (See FIGURES 16 and 17.)

Should the top stop, for some reason, be inaccurately formed to prevent introduction of the tape thereto, or should the operator inaccurately miss engaging the tape with the top stop, the driver assembly now moving rearward will cause the unused top stop, still between the jaws, to strike against the kickout pin which will dislodge the top stop from its position therebetween and drop it out of the machine.

Thus far, in the portion of the cycle completed, a top stop formed in a previous cycle has now been secured to a Stringer. In the remainder of the cycle, a new top stop will be fabricated for use in the next cycle of operation. It will be noted that one complete cycle occurs upon one complete rotation of the mainshaft `66. Although the now remaining portion of the cycle is accomplished within only a fraction of a second, it is here necessary to explain the several steps that take place in sequence during this time.

First, the disappearing arbor 118 is pushed by spring 160 in front of the driver assembly when the latter moves rearwardly out of its way.

Next the driver assembly continues to move rearward causing cam 88 to depress roller 90 and thus pivot the arm 92 about pin 94. This causes the feed jaw 98 to push the wire upwardly out of the upper end of opening 122 and across the space 198 between the top of the stationary die block and a lower face 124 of the disappearing arbor. The upper end of the wire abuts with face 124 limiting the upward travel of the wire (see FIGS. 20, 21, 22).

Further rotation of the mainshaft next causes the driver assembly to now start to travel forwardly, .causing cam 88 to clear the roller 90. The spring 96 now pivots arm 94 in reverse direction causing feed jaw 98 to descend. The wire is in the meantime held securely in jaw 100, which prevents the return travel of the Wire. Upon downward movement of the jaw 98, its grasp of the wire is released. At its lowest position the jaw 98 again firmly grasps the wire for repeating the operation in a next cycle. During this period of the cycle the forwardly moving driver assembly causes the lower forward corner of the lower jaw 148 to shear olf the end of the wire extending across the space 198. (See FIGURES 23 and 24.)

In a next step, the jaws 140 and 148 are carried further forward by the driver assembly to push the ends of the sheared wire 200l forwardly and bend the wire around 6 the die 126 to form the U-shaped staple on top stop 202. (See FIGURES 25, 26, 27.)

In a following step, the driver assembly continues to move further forward to cause the disappearing arbor to be pushed sidewards out of the way, this being accomplished by cam 158, bearing against face 156, to cause the arbor to retract against spring 160. The disappearing arbor, thus retracted, causes the top stop 202 to be left alone between the jaws and 148. The grooves 142 and in the above jaws, respectively, prevent the top stop from being carried sidewardly away from between the jaws when the disappearing arbor moves away. (See FIGURES 28 and 29.)

Thereafter, in a next step, the clutch is disengaged, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The driver assembly now is halted in its travel by automatic disengagement of the clutch. v

Thus the full cycle is completed.

The completed slide fastener 216, shown in FIGURE 28, includes a clinched top stop 218 on each Stringer 204. The top stop will prevent travel of the slider 220 off the slide fastener teeth.

In a modified construction, a microswitch 250 may be used instead of a foot switch, as shown in FIGURES 9 and 14. The microswitch is in parallel connection (not shown) with the foot switch and thus obviates the employment of the foot switch, if desired. Thus upon sideward movement of the stringer the same will pivot the driver assembly sidewards slightly against the switch to cause the machine clutch to engage. In the construction the forward end of the driver assembly is pivotable sideways.

Thus an efficient machine has been shown for forming and securing top stops to slide fastener slingers in a minimum time.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be in the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a semiautomatic wire fed top stop machine, the combination of a frame, said frame comprising a base and a crankcase, a bracket secured to said base, a spindle on said bracket for supporting a reel of flat wire, a motor and switch mounted on said crankcase, a motor shaft, a pulley on said motor shaft, an endless belt around said pulley and a pulley on a drive shaft for transmitting rotational movement to said drive shaft, a main shaft in axial alignment with said drive shaft, a clutch for engaging said drive shaft with said main shaft, automatic clutch disengaging means, a foot switch and solenoid for manually engaging said `drive shaft and said main shaft, a collar secured on the end of said main shaft, an eccentrically mounted pin on said collar, a link having one end carried pivotally free on said pin, the other end of said link being carried pivotally free on a pin mounted in a slidable driver assembly, said driver assembly, a stationary die block, a disappearing arbor, a roller assembly and a pair of wire feed jaws together forming a wire feed mechanism, a top stop forming mechanism and a top stop clinching mechanism for placement of top stops on slide fastener slingers adjacent -the ends of the rows of teeth, to prevent disengagement of a slider off the said ends of the rows of teeth, said driver assembly supported horizontally slidable within a U-shaped bracket secured on said crank-case, the rear end of said driver assembly having a cam in alignment to engage a roller on the end of an arm, said arm being pivotable at an intermediate point on a pin mounted on said crankcase, the opposite end of said arm carrying a first wire feed jaw, a second wi-re feed jaw stationarily secured on said crankcase in spaced apart relation below said first wire feed jaw, and both said wire feed jaws having means to freely move said wire upwardly therethrough and prevent downward movement of said wire therethrough each said wire feed jaw comprising a main body having a notch, said notch having7 opposite downwardly converging side walls, a cage pivotally mounted on said main body, a pair of rollers within said cage, said cage being fitted into said notch, each of said rollers being in frictional engagement with one of said converging side walls, means for insertion of said wire between said rollers, and a spring normally urging said cage and rollers downwardly toward said converging end of said side walls, said driver assembly comprising a forwardly and rearwardly slideable main body having a notch at its formward end for receiving an edge of a slinger therein, a swiveling clincher pivotally secured to said main body, a punch insert xedly secured to said body in spaced apart relation below said swiveling clincher, the forward ends of said swiveling clincher and said punch insert each having a jaw, said jaws cooperating together for formation of said top stops therebetween and each said jaw having a groove on its inner side for retaining said top stop therein, said disappearing arbor comprising a sidewardly slidable block carried on said frame, said arbor having an arcuate surface engageable with a cam face on said swiveling clincher for accomplishing said sideward travel upon engagement with said forward and rearward traveling driver assembly, said arbor having a lower side providing a feed stop means for said wire and said arbor having a die movable into alignment between said jaws of said swiveling clincher and said punch insert for forming a U-shaped top stop when said jaws push a piece of said wire against one side of said die.

2, The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stationary die block comprises a block member stationarily secured to said crankcase, a vertical opening through said block member for receiving said wire therethrough, the upper side of said block being in sliding engagement with a lower side of said punch insert jaw for shearing off the upper terminal end of said wire when said driver assembly is moved forwardly across said opening.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said roller assembly comprises a block member stationarily aflixed on said crankcase, a recess on the underside of said block member, a roller freely retained within said recess, an adjustable screw extending through said block and providing an adjustable stop against the upper side of said roller, said roller being in engagement with a cam face on the upper side of said swiveling clincher to cause said swiveling clincher to pivot downwardly on a forward movement of said driver assembly to cause the swiveling clincher jaw to close toward the jaw of said punch insert.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein a kickout pin is mounted on said disappearing arbor, said pin being in alignment to abut with a top stop remaining between said jaws at the end of the operation cycle when said driven assembly is moved rearwardly.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, further including a microswitch secured adjacent said driver assembly, the forward end of said assembly being pivotable by the sideward movement of the stringer for actuating said microswitch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,388 9/1950 Natzke et al. 29-207.5 2,596,077 5/1952 Legat 140-93 2,701,877 2/1955 Morin 29-207.5 2,989,751 6/1961 Scheuermann 29-33.2

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner'.

, L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

